How the EU Can Achieve Legally Trustworthy AI: A Response to the European Commission’s Proposal for an Artificial Intelligence Act

64 Pages Posted: 31 Aug 2021

See all articles by Nathalie A. Smuha

Nathalie A. Smuha

KU Leuven - Faculty of Law

Emma Ahmed-Rengers

London Interdisciplinary School; University of Birmingham - Birmingham Law School

Adam Harkens

University of Strathclyde, School of Law

Wenlong Li

University of Edinburgh - School of Law; University of Birmingham

James MacLaren

University of Birmingham - Birmingham Law School

Riccardo Piselli

University of Birmingham - Birmingham Law School

Karen Yeung

The University of Birmingham

Date Written: August 5, 2021

Abstract

This document contains the response to the European Commission’s Proposal for an Artificial Intelligence Act from members of the Legal, Ethical & Accountable Digital Society (LEADS) Lab at the University of Birmingham. The Proposal seeks to give expression to the concept of ‘Lawful AI.’ This concept was mentioned, but not developed in the Commission’s High-Level Expert Group on AI’s Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI (2019), which instead confined its discussion to the concepts of ‘Ethical’ and ‘Robust’ AI. After a brief introduction (Chapter 1), we set out the many aspects of the Proposal which we welcome, and stress our wholehearted support for its aim to protect fundamental rights (Chapter 2). Subsequently, we develop the concept of ‘Legally Trustworthy AI,’ arguing that it should be grounded in respect for three pillars on which contemporary liberal democratic societies are founded, namely: fundamental rights, the rule of law, and democracy (Chapter 3). Drawing on this conceptual framework, we first argue that the Proposal fails to reflect fundamental rights as claims with enhanced moral and legal status, which subjects any rights interventions to a demanding regime of scrutiny and must satisfy tests of necessity and proportionality. Moreover, the Proposal does not always accurately recognise the wrongs and harms associated with different kinds of AI systems and appropriately allocates responsibility for them. Second, the Proposal does not provide an effective framework for the enforcement of legal rights and duties, and does not ensure legal certainty and consistency, which are essential for the rule of law. Third, the Proposal neglects to ensure meaningful transparency, accountability, and rights of public participation, thereby failing to reflect adequate protection for democracy (Chapter 4). Based on these shortcomings in respecting and promoting the three pillars of Legally Trustworthy AI, we provide detailed recommendations for the Proposal’s revision (Chapter 5).

Keywords: artificial intelligence, fundamental rights, democracy, rule of law, Lawful AI, Legally Trustworthy AI, regulation

Suggested Citation

Smuha, Nathalie A. and Ahmed-Rengers, Emma and Harkens, Adam and Li, Wenlong and MacLaren, James and Piselli, Riccardo and Yeung, Karen, How the EU Can Achieve Legally Trustworthy AI: A Response to the European Commission’s Proposal for an Artificial Intelligence Act (August 5, 2021). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3899991 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3899991

Nathalie A. Smuha (Contact Author)

KU Leuven - Faculty of Law ( email )

Tiensestraat 41
Leuven, B-3000
Belgium

Emma Ahmed-Rengers

London Interdisciplinary School ( email )

London
United Kingdom

University of Birmingham - Birmingham Law School ( email )

Edgbaston
Birmingham, B15 2TT
United Kingdom

Adam Harkens

University of Strathclyde, School of Law ( email )

Lord Hope Building
141 St James Rd
Glasgow, Scotland G4 0LT
United Kingdom

Wenlong Li

University of Edinburgh - School of Law ( email )

University of Birmingham ( email )

Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT
United Kingdom

James MacLaren

University of Birmingham - Birmingham Law School ( email )

Edgbaston
Birmingham, AL B15 2TT
United Kingdom

Riccardo Piselli

University of Birmingham - Birmingham Law School ( email )

Edgbaston
Birmingham, AL B15 2TT
United Kingdom

Karen Yeung

The University of Birmingham ( email )

Law School and School of Computer Science
Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT
United Kingdom

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